Stewart brothers must fulfill contracts

The Manly Sea Eagles have made further moves to ensure the Stewart brothers aren’t snatched from their Brookvale nest before time, approaching NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert for advice about possible “get-out clauses” in their contracts.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Schubert told the Sea Eagles both siblings are legally bound to the club until the completion of their contracts, with Brett’s deal up at the end of 2012 and Glenn’s expiring two years later.

Brett Stewart did have a get-out clause in the event of former coach Des Hasler leaving, but it needed to be activated 12 months in advance of his departure. Hasler was dismissed from Manly earlier this month – just days after Stewart’s 31 October get-out deadline passed.

It had also been speculated that a complex contractual clause could enable Glenn Stewart to negotiate elsewhere at the end of next season and it’s understood Manly officials were especially keen for Schubert’s advice on this matter.

Both the St George Illawarra Dragons and Hasler’s new club the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will have the brothers in their sights as high-profile recruitment targets when they become available.

They would prefer to remain together, but Glenn’s longer contract at Manly makes that difficult unless Brett were to re-sign at Brookvale.